New York Life

New York Life gets away with denying STD when LTD is denied

Reviewed by Sharon on March 14th 2011   Verified Policyholder
I have had chronic back pain for years and recvd treatment for over a year of injections, chiro, etc. On Oct 5 2010 I had lower lumbar diskectomy and with lamintomy decompression on right and left side of spine. New York Life paid my STD thru 1/13/11 but reviewed for LTD in Jan. and denied me LTD due to not enough medical info to support my claim regardless of further testing being scheduled to determine the etiology of my pain. I have been unable to stand or walk for any significant amout of time and still have severe low back pain. I am a restaurant manager. New York Life stated that MRI done on 12/9/10 was unremarkable even though it did show a re herniation of disc that was involved in surgery. Once the LTD was denied they automatically denied my STD benefits which were payable until 3/14/11. Because this is employer supplied with me paying extra for higher payout, my job is now on the line and a PDc form had to be filled out for employer to determine if I am protected under FMLA since they go by New York Life's approval date. I submitted an appeal letter (Denial stated that I had to submit an appeal on my own before obtaining legal rep. according to our contract) and told her on Monday that I would be adding the Mylogram CT report this week once I heard from my doctor. My dr. told me I may need a second surgery depending on this test. I received a copy of Mylogram report and it looks as though the same disc showing on MRI is still herniated and nerve root sleeves are indented on both left and right side with the right side indented enough to prevent filling of contrast. Everything else is scar tissue. My job requires me to be on my feet on avg 7-8 of 10 hour shifts and is a one hour drive one way to work. I am on the verge of losing everything, my fiance lost his job first of Feb. and we have went from over 4000 month to 0 dollars per month. How can they do a across the board denial of STD because LTD is denied? I just do not understand, this is why people get disability insurance.
Reply
Sent on March 14th 2011 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Sharon, New York Life is notorious for disability claim denials such as yours. It sounds like you have a lot of medical evidence in support of your claim. In order for us to determine if we can assist you, we need to review your denial letter. It sounds like New York Life is trying to strong-arm you.

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New York Life Reviews
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New York Life

Lyme Disease Disability Claim Denial

Reviewed by Bob C. on November 13th 2024   Verified Policyholder
I have had repeat claims for genuine medical leave and they have repeatedly been denied by NY Life. I have even been diagnosed with Lyme and going through treatments and t... read more >
New York Life

Disappointed with NY Life Disability Excuses

Reviewed by Carina S. on November 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder
I am beyond disappointed with NY Life Disability Insurance’s handling of my father’s claim. My father, a 66-year-old man who has suffered two strokes and continues to ... read more >
New York Life

New York Life is a joke!

Reviewed by Heather on October 3rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
This company sucks when it comes to disability claims. They are slow at processing stuff, then they always say they didn't recieve the doctors information. You spend your ... read more >
New York Life

Claiming They Are Not Receiving Paperwork

Reviewed by Macey on June 26th 2024   Verified Policyholder | February 2024 date of disability
After suffering from medical issues from my delivery in February, I had to have a colostomy bag placed. Now New York Life is trying to claim my condition was pre-existing ... read more >
New York Life

Keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting

Reviewed by M.T. on February 15th 2024   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
I have been appealing a claim for LTD for 8 months! New York Life keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting ... read more >
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Payment delays!

Reviewed by Kim W on May 7th 2022   Verified Policyholder | September 2021 date of disability
I have a Long term disability claim with New York Life. Approval process did not take too long and they did start my LTD just a few days after my STD ended. First check wa... read more >
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NYL denied my claim

Reviewed by Trapped in the cogs on March 7th 2022   Verified Policyholder | May 2021 date of disability
I’ve been an RN for 31 years. I lost 6 family members (3 of those to cancer) in 9 months and suffered a breakdown, I just couldn’t watch people die anymore. Cigna (NYL... read more >
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Hold up on payments!!!

Reviewed by A Crews on January 20th 2022   Verified Policyholder | July 2021 date of disability
I have had 3 people on my case since July 2021! This last person Amanda S drag her feet on my claims and payments. I literally have to go to my mom for help! When I contac... read more >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(31)
Showing 8 of 31 Answered Questions

Q: LTD canceled their request for updated med records?

Answered on March 10th 2025 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: Most Authorizations are only good for two years so depending on when you signed it, it may no longer be valid ... Read More >

Q: Why is New York Life Insurance giving me a hard time?

Answered on January 29th 2025 by Attorney Alex Palamara
A: Holly, the requirements of NYL depends on the type of policy that you are inquiring about. I would need to rev... Read More >

Q: NYL LTD also have LLC

Answered on April 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: LLC and LTD,If you receive active income, meaning its not considered passive investment income from the LLC ... Read More >

Q: Can I submit my resignation while on STD with NY Life? I don’t know if I’ll be able to return when they want and I would rather give a 2 weeks notice.

Answered on March 28th 2024 by Attorney Stephen Jessup
A: Generally we do not recommend resigning from your job while on disability to avoid any potential issues with c... Read More >

Q: New York Life LTD offset my disabled adult child.

Answered on March 28th 2024 by Attorney Stephen Jessup
A: Yes, we have handled cases with fact patterns similar in nature. However, as you are in litigation already we ... Read More >

Q: My father has been in STD Cigna and LTD with New York Life since Jan 2021, diagnosed Pulmonary Fibrosis due to Covid-19. Can insurance and ex job make him return to work?

Answered on January 16th 2024 by Attorney Alex Palamara
A: Walt, while no one can force your father back to work, NYL can certainly deny benefits if they believe there i... Read More >

Q: Do I have to sign agreement to pay back difference in LTD payment and SSDI payment?

Answered on November 10th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: You do not need to sign the agreement to pay back SSDI. Disability companies try to make you do this and you a... Read More >

Q: Can NYLG just stop payment?

Answered on June 23rd 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Moe, unfortunately long term disability insurance companies can deny benefits at anytime without notice. Conta... Read More >
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Our client, a former high level medical sales representative, suffered from chronic pain stemming from his neck, back and hip that would eventually result in multiple surgeries to include lumbar fusion, cervical fusion and sacroiliac joint fusion. He initially filed his claim for disability benefits at age 62 due to the increasing pain he was experiencing, which... Read More >

Project Manager with Migraines Gets NY Life Disability Benefit Denial Reversed

Disability due to migraines is very common, but many disability insurance claims deny these long term disability claims because there is no objective evidence of migraines. New York Life will commonly try to limit disability benefits to 24 months and claim that your medical condition is mental and not physical.We were able to stop that from happening in this... Read More >

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In early 2019, the widow of a decease man contacted our firm as she was troubled by the actions of New York Life. Prior to contacting our firm, the lady’s husband had died from metastatic prostate cancer in July of 2018. Through his prior employer, the decedent was covered under two insurance policies:  (1) a group long term disability insurance policy that provided monthly income replacement benefits sho... Read More >

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New York Life Denies Technology Manager under the Own Occupation Provision & Dell Disability Lawyers Wins Appeal

Our client, Mr. N, formerly worked as a Technology Manager / Vice President for a large bank. For many years Mr. N suffered from chronic debilitating effects of multiple physical conditions and ailments, including, among other conditions, Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dementia, Dystonia and Bradykinesia, which left him with debilitating physical and cognitive impairments. Mr. N was unwilling to give up ... Read More >
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5 Ways We Help Get Your Benefits Paid

Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability insurance benefits approved. Applying for disability insurance benefits can be a difficult process and the information you provide is critical. Most disability insurance companies look at your application in hopes of finding a reason to deny your claim. Your disability company will ask you to complete numerous forms, interview you, request lots of information, speak with your doctors and possibly request to have you examined by their hired gun doctor.

Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our disability insurance lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

Submit A Strong Appeal Package

If your disability insurance benefits have been wrongfully denied, then our disability insurance lawyers know exactly what it takes to get your disability claim approved. You only get once chance to submit an Appeal, therefore every piece of evidence that will support your disability claim must be included. The goal is to win your disability benefits at the Appeal level, but while preparing your Appeal you must consider how a federal judge will review your disability claim if your benefit denial is upheld.

Preparing a strong disability appeal package is an art that requires you to understand how the courts interpret your disability policy language, ERISA regulations / laws, and how to strategically present evidence in support of your definition of disability. We encourage you to contact any of our long-term disability attorneys for a free immediate review of your disability denial.

Sue Your Disability Company

98% of the disability insurance lawsuits filed by our law firm have resulted in either the payment of benefits or a lump-sum settlement agreement. Our disability insurance attorneys have filed ERISA governed and private policy long term disability insurance lawsuits against every major disability insurance company in state and federal courts nationwide and we love fighting for the little guy against the multi-billion dollar insurance company giants.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a free review of your disability benefit denial. There are many complex factors in a disability benefit lawsuit and the legal battle to win long term disability benefits can be fierce.

Prevent A Disability Benefit Denial

Approval of long-term disability is a continuous process as every disability insurance company will evaluate your eligibility for benefits on a monthly basis. You can never let your guard down and assume that your disability company will continue to pay your benefits for as long as you think you need them.

Our disability insurance law firm offers a reasonable flat fee monthly claim handling service in which we handle every aspect of your long-term disability claim and do whatever it takes to make sure you are paid every month.

Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Let's discuss if a lump-sum settlement or buyout of your disability insurance claim is both available and makes financial sense for you. Our disability insurance lawyers have negotiated more than five-hundred million dollars in disability insurance buyouts and we know how to get you a maximum settlement. A disability insurance company is not required to offer a buyout and not every disability company offers them.

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Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance attorneys that know how to get your short or long term disability benefits paid. As a nationwide law firm we have helped thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the United States to collect hundreds of millions of dollars of disability insurance benefits from every major disability insurance company.

Our attorneys have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement in more than 98% of our cases. Our disability insurance lawyers have seen it all when it comes to disability insurance claims and we know exactly what it takes for your disability claim to be approved.

We offer disability insurance attorney representation nationwide and we welcome you to contact any of our LTD lawyers for a free immediate review of your disability claim. We also invite you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have more than 900 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our disability insurance attorneys help individuals that have either purchased a long term disability insurance policy from an insurance company or obtained short or long term disability insurance coverage as a benefit from their employer. We have helped individuals in almost every type of occupation with monthly disability benefit payments ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

Our clients include all types of employees ranging from retail associates, sales representatives, government employees, police officers, teachers, janitors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, financial advisors, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, consultants, IT professionals, engineers, professional athletes, business owners, and high level executives.

A strong understanding and presentation of the duties of your occupation is essential for securing disability insurance benefits.

Do you work in my state?

Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm that is available to represent you regardless of where you live in the United States. We have partner lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability insurance lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world.

What are your fees?

Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.

The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate.

In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.

Do I have to come to your office to work with your law firm?

No. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via phone, email, fax, or video conferencing sessions. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office.

How can I contact you?

When you call us during normal business hours you will immediately speak with a disability insurance attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Lawyers and staff must return all client calls same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.

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